Signaling device



Sept. 1s, 192& 1,634,65

' A. O. BECKMAN SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May'l, 1927 fnwentar Patented Sept. 18, 1928 i i V UNITED I STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

morn QBVILLE 3110mm, OFPVAQSADENA, canrronnm. I

' v srennnme nnvrcn. Application filed ma 1921' semi No. 1 891575.

The present invention relates to improVener in which the same is associated with a 'ments in signals andhas reference more-parspeedometer, and also showing the electrical ticularly to a simple and eflicient means for connection with a visual signal. v association with any" instrument which has a v Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device,

8 hand, dial, or other movable part which is and 1 regulated in its motion by a spring, whereby Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail of the p a signal will be automatically operated when main spring associated with the rotatable the hand, dial, or other movable part has dial of the speedometer for more clearly disreached apredetermined position. closing the connection between the ends of- 10 In the present instance, the invention is the spring with the dial carrying shaft and 60 shown in association with the speedometer of the movable contact respectively. a motor vehicle whereby the signal will be i 4 In the drawing wherein for the purpose of automatically operated when the rotatable illustration is shown one embodiment of my speedometer dial has reached a predete-rinvention, the numeral ldesignates the romined position, thus indicating to the operatatable dial of a speedometer for motor ve- 6 tor of the vehicle the rate of speed attained. hicles, and the dial is formed with speedin- One of the importantobjects of the present dicating graduations on its peripheral face invention is to provide a signalingdevice of in the manner well known inthe art. The the above mentioned character which in-' supporting bracket or frame for therotatzv cludes a circuit closer of such construction ble dial 1 and-its shaft 2 is shown at 3 and 70 as to permit the same to be readily and easily this is .also of the conventional construction attached to the speedometer of the vehicle well known in the art. The shaft 2 extends without necessitating anymaterial alterations upwardly through the dial 1 and the latter is of the parts of the speedometer with which keyed or otherwise fixedly secured on the 25. the circuit closer is to be associated, means shaft for rotation therewith. 75 being SOciatedwithithe circu t C OSQI'f s The hair spring which is' associated witha ting the same at any predetermined position speedometer is'disclosed at i and one end of s so that the speed at which the signal is to opthis springis secured to the upper end of the crate may be regulated. shaft 2; The other end of the spring 4 which A further object of the invention is to prois normally expanded "is detached from the so vid a, circuit closer which willat all times frame to'which. it is ordinarilyconnected and be positive and efficient in its operation as the sameis adapted for connection to the well as automatic, the device being applicab 7 movable contacts of the circuit closer, the to many instruments, such as tachometers construction of whichwill be hereinafter electrical meters, pressure gauges, temperamore fully described.

ture recorders and the like; a r The present invention includes the previ- A still further object is to provide a signalsion of a plate '5 which is pivotally supporting device of the above mentioned character ed by and fastened to the inner end of the Whi lIiS si p n n ruotion, inexpensive, supporting arm 6, the pivot being illustrated 40 strong and durable, and further well adapted at 7, in such a manner that the plate '5 may no for the purposefor which it is designedbe manually rotated for adjustment, but will Other fob'ects and advan ag s of hi innot thereafter rotate or swing under the acvention'will or become apparent during the. tion of the spring 4. This may be accomcourseofthe following description. I v plished by a sufliciently firm screw which 45 In the accompanying drawing forming a "may be loosened for adjustment and then part of this specification and in which. like tightened to lock the plate 5 in position. numerals designate 'likeparts throughout the This supporting arm 6 has its outer end dissame, e I posed downwardly and thence laterally as at i Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device 8 for rigid attachment to the upper face of embodying my inventlon showing the manthe top portion 9 of the supporting frame 3 as is clearly disclosed in the drawing, the upper end of the shaft 2 is disposed below the inner end portion of the supporting arm 6.

The plateo is adapted for manual rotation on the inner end of the supporting arm 6 so that the proper tension may be given to the spring 4 to cause the speedometer to read the correct speed, and is therefore held lined in this position against the action of the spring 4. Arranged on the upper face of the plate 5 is the block 10 of insulating material and this block is secured on the plate through the medium of the screws 11. The block is formed with a longitudinally extending here through which is disposed the inner end portion of a wire 12, the inner end being disposed laterally to provide what I term as a stationary contact 13. This contact is preferably constructed of non-corroding material. The outer end of this wire extends through an insulating bushin 1a which is mounted in the upstandingportion 15 formed at the outer end of the plate 5 and the outer end of this wire has connection wtih a suitable signal through the medium of a wire 16. The signal in the present instance constitutes an electric lamp and is adapted to be mounted on an instrument board of the motor vehicle in any appropriate manner so that the same may be readily observed by the driver of the vehicle. Though I have shownthe signal as comprising a lamp 17, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to this particuiar type of signal. Any other character of signal may be employed for the purpose of indicating to the operator the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

A resilient arm 18 in the form of a relatively narrow elongated strip or" metal is secured at one end to the upstanding end 15 or" the plate 5 and the free end of this arm extends beyond the opposite end of the plate and is disposed downwardly to provide a depending linger 19. This finger performs a two-fold function. In one instance, the finger provides a contact adjusted for coopera tion with the stationary contact 13. The contact 19 is also formed of a noncorroding material.

Furthermore the finger 19 is adapted to be attached to the outer end of the expansible hair spring 4: by soldering or otherwise ailining the outer end of the spring to the lower end of the finger and this association of the finger with respect to the spring is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. A pair of upstanding narrowly spaced guides 20 are formed on the inner end of the plate 5 and the free end portion of the arm 18 is disposed be tween these guide members as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The tension of the resilientmovable contact arm 18 is regulated through the medium of the screw 21 which is threaded through an upstanding ear 22 provided therefor on one side of the plate 5, and the manner in which this screw cooperates with the movable contact arm 18 is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 0f the drawing. The adjustment of the tension of the arm 18 is the means whereby the device is set so as to give the signal at the desired position of the dial.

A wire forms communication between the lamp 17 and a suitable source of electric energy illustrated at 2% and a wire 25 connects the source of energy with the frame of the speedometer in a manner as is diagrammatically disclosed in Figure 1.

The operation oithe device embodying my invention may be briefly stated as follows When the device is iirst installed, the plate 5 is adjusted manually so that the speedometer dial indicates the correct speeds. This adjustment is thereafter leltunchanged. The device is adjusted to give a signal, at any desired speed by turning the screw 21 until the contacts 19 and 13 are in engagement with each other when the dial indicates the desired speed. For lower speed, the contacts are out of engagement with each other and the circuit to the signal lamp 1'? is opened.

Manifestly when the dial 1 of the speedonr eter rotates with the shaft depending upon. the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the spring 1 will be wound around the shaft and as this spring becomes contracted, the same will cause the linger 19 of the movable contact arm 18 to move inwardly toward the contact 13 and when the vehicle has reached the predetermined speed, the contacts will. be in engagement with each other thereby closing the circuit to the lamp and warning the operator of the excessive rate of speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

Obviously as the speed of the vehicle decreases the spring -1- will expand and such operation will result in the movementof the linger 19 a ay from the st tionary contact 13 thereby breaking the circuit to the s gnaling lamp 1?. The provision of a signaling device of the above mentioned character willv enable the same to be readily and easily associated with the spe t ometer of the conventional construction and 5 positive and efficient in its operation. l urhermore will at all times be ltlu thermore the signaling device will operate without all'ectiug the sensitivity and accuracy of the instrument to which the same is at tached and while 1 have shown the device as The simplicity in which my improved device is constructed enables the parts to be parts of the speedometer with which the deviceis to be associated While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: g

1. In a circuit closer, the combination with a rotatable indicator and its supporting shaft, the supporting frame therefor, and a normally expandcdspring operatively connected at one end to the shaft; of a plate supported above the frame adapted for manual adjustment in a horizontal plane, a stationary contact carried bythe plate, a movable contact on the plate normally out of engagement with the stationary contact, the other end of the spring being secured to the movable contact whereby the contacts will be in engagement. with each other when the indicator has rotated a predetermined distance.

Q. In a circuit closer, the combination with a rotatable indicator and the supporting shaft therefor, the supporting frame therefor, and a normally expanded spring connected at one. end to the shaft; of a platecadjustably mounted on the frame above the spring, a stationary'contact. secured on the plate and disposed beyond one end thereof, a movable contact arm secured at one end on the plate, the outer end of the arm being disposed downwardly beyond the end of the plate to provide a contact, finger for cooperation with the outer end of the stationary contact, and being normally out of engagement therewith, the outer end of the spring being secured to the depending finger whereby the finger will be brought into engagement with the stationary contact when the rotatable indicator has rotated a predetermined distance.

3. In a circuit closer, the combination with a rotatable indicator, and the supporting shaft therefor, the supporting frame therefor, and a normally expanded coil spring connected at one end to the shaft, of a plate adjustably mounted on the frame above the spring, a stationary contact secured on the plate and disposed beyond one end thereof, a movable contact arm secured at one end on the plate, the outer end of the arm being disposed downwardly beyond the end of the plate to provide a contact finger for cooperation with the outer end of the stationary contact, and being normally out ofengagement therewith, the outer end of the spring being secured to the depending finger whereby said finger will be brought into engagement with the stationary contact when the indicator has rotated a predetermined distance, and means for adjusting the movable arm.

4. In a circuit closer, the combination with a rotatable indicator and its supporting shaft, the supporting frame therefor and a normally expanded spring operatively conthe depending finger, whereby the finger will be brought into engagement with the stationary contact. when the rotatable indicator has moved to a predetermined position, an upstanding ear formed on the plate adjacent the connected end of the movable contact arm, and an adjusting screw extending through said ear for engagement with the movable arm for adjusting the latter.

5. In a circuit-closer of the class described comprising in combination a rotatable indicator, the supporting shaft therefor, the supporting frame therefor and the normally expanded coil spring connected-at one end to the shaft, a plate supported abovethe frame and adapted for manual adjustment in a horizontal plane, a block secured on the plate, a wire extending through said block, the outer end of the wire projecting beyond the outer end of the plate to provide a stationary con cooperation with the outer end of the station- I ary contact, and being normally out of engagement therewith, the outer end of the spring being secured to the depending finger whereby the latter will be brought into engagement with the stationary contact when the rotatable indicator has moved to a predetermined position, and an adjusting screw arranged on the plate for engagement with the movable contact arm for adjusting the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARNOLD ORVILLE BEOKMAN. 

